Martin Luther King Jr.'s Global Influence
MLK’s influence stretched far beyond the 50 states.
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India - King traveled to India in 1959 in a trip that helped to solidify his stance on nonviolent activism. But King wasn’t the only one inspired by the trip. Since his death, Indians have also been inspired by King and Gandhi alike. “Since being in India, I am more convinced than ever before that the method of nonviolent resistance is the most potent weapon available to oppressed people in their struggle for justice and human dignity,” King said. (Photo: SAM PANTHAKY/AFP/Getty Images)
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Toronto - The city in Canada is known for its vibrant and dedicated Martin Luther King Jr. celebrations. (Photo: Dennis Grombkowski/Getty Images)
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Israel - A street in Jerusalem has been dedicated to King.(Photo: Creative Commons via Joe Goldberg/Flickr.com)
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South Africa - South African pioneer Nelson Mandela has said that the ideas of Martin Luther King Jr. fueled his mission to be unrelenting in his quest to banish Apartheid. Let the strivings of us all prove Martin Luther King Jr. to have been correct when he said that humanity can no longer be tragically bound to the starless midnight of racism and war,” Mandela said upon receiving his Nobel Prize in 1993. (Photo: OFF/AFP/Getty Images)
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Norway - Martin Luther King Jr. received his Nobel Peace Price in Oslo, Norway in 1964.“Today I come to Oslo as a trustee, inspired and with renewed dedication to humanity. I accept this prize on behalf of all men who love peace and brotherhood. I say I come as a trustee, for in the depths of my heart I am aware that this prize is much more than an honor to me personally,” King said in his acceptance speech.(photo: National Archive/Newsmakers)
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London - London, England has paid tribute to King via a large sculpture erected outside of the city’s famed Westminster Abbey church.(Photo: Peter Macdiarmid/Getty Images)
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Netherlands - King visited Amsterdam in 1964 and the city hasn’t forgotten him since. A beautiful park was dedicated to the international icon and in 2008, the mayor of Amsterdam became the first non-American to receive the Martin Luther King Jr. Award for his policies of promoting tolerance and social equality. (Photo: Pictorial Parade/Getty Images)
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Hiroshima - Hiroshima, Japan celebrates MLK’s birthday with nearly the same fervor as the U.S. Former mayor Tadatoshi Akiba, right, is credited with holding a special banquet at the mayor's office in honor of King each year to honor his commitment to human rights. (Photo: Kyodo /Landov)